Friday, July 29, 2011

A string of 100+ degree days

It has been hot.  At night it does not cool down, well, unless you consider 98 degrees cooled down.  And it's dry, very, very, dry. 

But we have food.  This morning Yo pulled up one of our favorite sites, "the last 24 hours in pictures", see the link to the right.  People are starving.  Yes I know that is always the case someplace.  But these people look like my kids.  They are on the Horn Of Africa - that includes Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia and part of Kenya.  Let's not forget tiny Djibouti. 

We go to our garden and see all that grows, despite the central Texas drought.  We have water, enough to grow with and shower, and wash with...really more than enough.  I can't send any of our watermelon, or zucchini, or basil to Africa, but I can pray, and remember these people, and cry for them.  Yo asked why all the mothers and fathers are dead, "why are the grandmas raising the kids?".  HIV was my reply, "ahhh", he knows full well about HIV and loss.  And the grandma's are dying, as they give what little they have to the children.  Who will be left?

And then we go to the pool.  But we will not forget





And I've been sketching.  I want to figure out how to color my sketches on the computer, but I've not found just the right program, and I don't want to buy photoshop.

I have had fun on www.befunky.com



This last one is from a photo that I used a watercolor program on.  Cool!

We are off on a date night tonight, Man and I along with a group of friends.  It's a 40th birthday!  Limo, dancing, drinks, all that! 

Happy Friday.  Remember to Thank God for the Little Things

Thursday, July 28, 2011

EQ turns 9, almost to the double digits with everyone

EQ is 9 years old today.  It is hard to believe.  am i that old already?

Looking through photos yesterday I felt sadly nostalgic, a little achy inside.  I wonder how I will feel if I'm blessed to make it to 90; is the ache bearable?  do we change?

I told Man how I felt like there were so many moments I've missed.  Times I've been self absorbed, grumpy, here but not here. 

It is such a gift to be home with my boys.  I can't imagine having missed all of this.  Not all moms want to be home, I'm programmed with the home software.   There is no other earthly place I'd rather be than home with my family.  God wanted me home; He directed our paths to make it happen, made us happy to sacrifice for me to stay home, we are happy and still believe we have more than enough....even without two paychecks.  He caused money to come, bills to get paid, jobs to open.  Thank you God for keeping me with my boys. 

And now a few EQ pics.  He is such a funny boy!


























Wednesday, July 20, 2011

4th of July, Harley Davidson, mascots and ...border crossing

Answer: All things American (actually United States, but we like to just say American; as if it's all ours)


We spent The Fourth in St. Louis.  Uncle D put on a great fireworks show after the pool party.





The boys got to go for a spin on the Harley.




and the tractor...




EQ was honing his WWF skills, another great thing American!

After Tom's race we got some pics with the Mascot, well not really, he was busy, but we did find his double. 


While on vacation I read a great book, one I've put on here before.
Amexica: War Along the Borderline
by: Ed Vulliamy

The border fascinates me, I mean the US Mexico border.  The Canada/US border is not so interesting, although I'm sure much goes on there that I'm unaware of. 

I still don't know exactly how the border should be "controlled"; I don't think a fence is the answer.  The bulk of the drugs coming North and the guns and money going South, cross over the legal border crossings.   This book is from 2010, the stats are very current.  I highly recommend this book if you live in the United States.

Now I'm reading
Midnight on the Line: The Secret Life of the US - Mexico Border
by: Tim Gaynor

This book is equally fascinating and enlightening.  The author spends years on the border, on both sides.  He rides out with mounted US Border Patrols, gets to see the drone in action, flies out in the Black Hawk, meets and talks with the Native American Special Tracking Unit (not tracking Native Americans, made up of Native Americans who use their skills to track across the desert).  

Tim even attempts to cross from Mexico into the US via the most popular route; he and his partner get lost, run low on water, and have to call it quits.  They can't make the trip that kills unknown numbers of men, women and children.

If you live in the US this is an issue you need to know about, and give thought to.  What is the part about the border that is the worst issue?  the people coming over to get jobs?  the drugs? the guns and millions of dollars flowing South?  The drugs are my highest concern, and the resulting guns and money that go South.  The huge appetite for drugs here, feeds the narcotics cartels there with more guns and money.  It really is a war and needs to be seen as such. 

Some people view the migrants as the number one problem.   That's okay, but at least ponder what is behind their drive North?  Do you really think they want to leave their villages, family, Church, all that they know, to cross illegally into the US in hopes of getting a job, living a secret life, hoping not to get caught - just to send money back home so their family can eat.  These people would rather stay home, work at home, live at home.  There are many solutions, micro-loans, education, etc., but with the cartels running the country, it will only get worse.  

Give some thought and prayer to this issue. 

Don't dismiss these people.  And realize that the border cuts through many tribes, villages, people groups, randomly making some US citizens and other Mexican citizens.  Not all Mexican folks you see are immigrants, many of their families were here long before ours came to the US. 

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Goin' on up to that school bus in the sky...

Thrills and chills and hundred dollar bills!  The fun, and the pain, of vacation.

We took in The City Museum in St. Louis.  Museum is not quite the right word for this place; I don't know what would be more appropriate, but "museum" kind of sounds old and boring - totally wrong regarding this place. 

Even getting there was fun.

Ahhh, the cars one can have when one does not have kids!



The school bus noted in the title.


There are two planes and you get  to go in them, if you can get to them!



Don't wear a dress, they all advised. 


Considering the rest of the place, that sign must be a joke, right?


Man, Grandpa K and Grandma K, along with Aunt K in the baleen and the scales of the sea room. 


Is that grin one of relief?


Man went all the way over. 


Are you sure I go this way? or is this one of those family reduction tricks?


The family went up, I stayed down. 



I want one of these concrete ellies in my garden. 


It's a praying mantis!


You can go into the bus.  I did not; I have vehicular vomiting issues. 



Another family reduction technique?



Into the whale's....butt?



Two men and a face stuck on a wall.  There's a joke there someplace...



And a rooster that never quits. 

STOP! In the Name of Love

The men claimed the need to go to the "computer" store after the museum.  Yeah, right. 

More fun to come!